Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFCHIA4’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘DLFCHIA4’, characterized by its upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; uniform and freely flowering habit; strong upright flowering stems with numerous inflorescences; decorative-type inflorescences with dark red-colored ray florets; and relative resistance to  Fusarium oxysporum  f. sp.  chrysanthemi.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum X morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DLFCHIA4’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Varieties of Chrysanthemum Plants

Inventor/Applicant: Arie Gerard Post

Filed: Mar. 20, 2019

Ser. No. 62/919,611

Inventor/Applicant hereby claim the benefit of this provisional U.S. Patent Application. &cl STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT & ASSIGNEE

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Assignee, Delitlor Royalties B. V. of Maasdijk, The Netherlands on Nov. 19, 2018, application number 2018/3025. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor/Applicant and Assignee assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor/Applicant and/or the Assignee. Inventor/Applicant and Assignee claim a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum x morifolium, typically grown as a cut flower Chrysanthemum and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘DLFCHIA4’.

The new Chrysanthemum plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new cut flower Chrysanthemum plants with numerous attractive inflorescences.

The new Chrysanthemum plant originated from a cross-pollination in February, 2015 ‘Delibarca’, not patented as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number DB 42809 as the male; or pollen, parent. The new Chrysanthemum plant was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands in April, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum plant by vegetative terminal cuttings since April, 2016 in Maasdijk, The Netherlands has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DLFCHIA4’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DLFCHIA4’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Uniform and freely flowering habit.     -   5. Strong upright flowering stems with numerous inflorescences.     -   6. Decorative-type inflorescences with dark red-colored ray         florets.     -   7. Relatively resistant to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp.         chrysanthemi.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants of the female parent, ‘Delibarca’, in inflorescence size as plants of the new Chrysanthemum have larger inflorescences than plants of the female parent, ‘Delibarca’. In addition, plants of the new Chrysanthemum have dark red-colored ray florets whereas plants of the female parent, ‘Delibarca’ have dark purplish red-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants of the male parent selection in ray floret color as plants of the new Chrysanthemum have lighter red-colored ray florets than plants of the male parent selection. In addition, ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum have retuse to emarginate-shaped apices whereas ray florets of plants of the male parent selection have obtuse-shaped apices.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘Delibarca Red’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of ‘Delibarca Red’ in ray floret color as ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are lighter red in color than ray florets of plants of ‘Delibarca Red’. In addition, ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are slightly convex in cross-section whereas ray florets of plants of ‘Delibarca Red’ are slightly concave in cross-section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Chrysanthemum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 of 2) comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘DLFCHIA4’ grown as a spray-type cut flower.

The photograph on the second sheen (FIG. 2 of 2) is a close-up view of lower (top of the photographic sheet) and upper (bottom of the photographic sheet) surfaces of typical inflorescences (left) and leaves (right).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the winter in ground beds in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial cut Chrysanthemum production. Plants were initially given long day/short night treatments followed by short day/long night treatments to induce flower initiation and development. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 2° C. to 20° C. and light levels averaged 8 klux. Plants were grown as single-stem spray-type plants and were nine weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘DLFCHIA4’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—‘Delibarca’, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number DB             42809, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About six days at             temperatures about 24° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About eight days at             temperatures about 22° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About twelve             days at temperatures about 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About two             weeks at temperatures about 22° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically creamy white in             color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous decorative-type cut             flower that is typically grown as a single stem spray-type;             upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth             rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 80.3             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of inflorescence             plane.—About 83.4 cm.         -   Plant (spray) diameter.—About 18.8 cm.         -   Flowering stem length.—About 76.2 cm.         -   Flowering stem diameter.—About 7 mm.         -   Flowering stem internode length.—About 3.2 cm.         -   Flowering stem strength.—Strong.         -   Flowering stem aspect.—Erect.         -   Flowering stem texture and luster.—Moderately pubescent;             slightly glossy.         -   Flowering stem color, developing.—Close to 143B.         -   Flowering stem color, developed.—Close to between 143A and             146B; ridges, tinged with close to 183B.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:             About 12.2 cm. Width: About 8.5 cm. Shape: Ovate to broadly             ovate. Apex: Short apiculate. Base: Attenuate. Margin:             Palmately lobed, coarsely crenate; sinuses convergent and             medium in depth. Texture and luster, upper surface:             Moderately pubescent, not rugose; moderately velvety; very             slightly glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface:             Moderately pubescent, prominent venation; slightly velvety;             matte. Venation pattern: Pinnate, reticulate. Color:             Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to between 137B and             143A, closest to 137B. Developing leaves, lower surface:             Close to 138B. Fully developed leaves, upper surface: Close             to NN137A; venation, close to 147C. Fully developed leaves,             lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 146C.             Petioles: Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm by             3 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper             and lower surfaces: Densely pubescent; slightly glossy.             Color, upper surface: Close to 147C; edges, close to NN137B.             Color, lower surface: Close to 146C; edges, close to 137A.             Stipules: Quantity and appearance: Two leafy stipules,             opposite, at the petiole attachment to the stem. Length:             About 1.5 cm. Width: About 1.9 cm. Shape: Flabellate.             Texture and luster, upper surface: Moderately pubescent, not             rugose; moderately velvety; very slightly glossy. Texture             and luster, lower surface: Moderately pubescent, prominent             venation; slightly velvety; matte. Color, upper surface:             Close to NN137A. Color, lower surface: Close to 147B. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Decorative inflorescence form with             oblanceolate-shaped ray florets and tubular disc florets             (disc florets are inconspicuous); inflorescences borne             perpendicular to peduncles and face mostly upright to             slightly outwardly; ray and disc florets develop acropetally             on a capitulum.         -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant; typical of Chrysanthemums.         -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant flower             in the autumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere; at other             times of the year, inflorescence initiation and development             can be induced under short day/long night conditions (at             least 13.5 hours of darkness); uniform flowering habit and             short response time, plants exposed to two weeks of long             day/short night conditions after planting followed by             photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower about             52 days later when grown as a spray-type.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Good postproduction longevity; in             an interior environment, inflorescences and foliage will             maintain good color and substance for about two weeks;             inflorescences persistent.         -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Freely flowering habit; when             grown as a spray-type, about 17 inflorescences develop per             flowering stem.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 7.5 cm. Depth (height):             About 2.5 cm. Disc diameter: About 3 mm.         -   Receptacles.—Height: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Close to 144C.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 9 mm. Diameter: About             1 cm. Shape: Roughly globular. Texture and luster: Distally,             smooth and glabrous; proximally, moderately pubescent;             slightly glossy. Color: Close to 138C and 143A; immature ray             florets, close to 183B.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 280 arranged in             about eight whorls. Length: About 2.4 cm; varying between             0.8 cm and 3.4 cm. Width: About 6 mm; varying between 1 mm             and 9 mm. Shape: Oblanceolate; slightly concave and             carinate. Apex: Retuse to emarginate. Base: Attenuate.             Margin: Entire; not undulate. Aspect: Initially upright to             about 90° from vertical. Texture and luster, upper surface:             Smooth, glabrous; velvety; matte. Texture and luster, lower             surface: Smooth, glabrous; moderately velvety; slightly             glossy. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 53A.             When opening, lower surface: Close to 178B. Fully opened,             upper surface: Close to 53A; venation, close to 53A; color             does not change with development. Fully opened, lower             surface: Close to 181B; venation, close to 184A; color does             not change with development.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About twelve             spirally arranged in about two whorls at the center of the             receptacle; disc florets inconspicuous. Length: About 3 mm.             Diameter: About 1 mm. Shape: Lower 75% fused into a tube;             upper 25% free. Apex: Narrowly acute. Margin, distally:             Entire. Texture and luster, inner and outer surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color, when opening, inner and             outer surfaces: Apex: Close to 144B. Mid-section: Close to             145D. Base: Close to 145C. Color, fully opened, inner and             outer surfaces: Apex: Close to 144B. Mid-section: Close to             145D. Base: Close to 145C.         -   Involucral bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: About 24             arranged in two whorls. Length: About 7 mm. Width: About             3 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Cuneate. Margin:             Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;             glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Densely             pubescent; matte. Color, upper surface: Close to 143A;             margins, translucent and close to 145C. Color, lower             surface: Close to 137C; margins, translucent and close to             145C.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 5.4 cm.             Diameter, terminal peduncle: About 2 mm. Length, third             peduncle: About 6.8 cm. Diameter, third peduncle: About             2 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect, terminal peduncle: Mostly             upright. Aspect, third peduncle: About 25° from the             flowering stem axis. Texture and luster: Densely pubescent;             matte. Color: Close to 137C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Quantity: About five per floret. Filament length:             About 1.5 mm. Filament color: Close to 145D. Anther size:             About 0.5 mm by 0.75 mm. Anther shape: Narrowly oblong.             Anther color: Close to 13A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen             color: Close to 14B. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc             florets. Quantity: One per floret. Pistil length: About             4 mm. Style length: About 3.5 mm. Style color: Close to             144C. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft,             decurrent. Stigma color: Close to 151D. Ovary color: Close             to 145C.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production have             not been observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have     been observed to be relatively resistant to Fusarium oxysporum f.     sp. chrysanthemi. To date, plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not     been observed to be resistant to pests and other pathogens common to     plants grown under commercial conditions. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about −12° C. to     35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 10. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFCHIA4’ as illustrated and described. 